CHAPTER 2
DEFINING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
What is a Research Problem
In research process, the first step is selecting and properly defining a
research problem.
The components of a research problem are:
i. There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or
the problem.
ii. There must be some objective(s) to be attained at.
iii. There must be alternative means for obtaining the objective(s) one
wishes to attain.
iv. There must remain some doubt in the selection of alternatives.
v. There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains.
Selecting the Research Problem
The following points can be considered by a researcher in
selecting a research problem or a subject for research:
i. Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen.
ii. Controversial subject should not become the choice of an
average researcher.
iii. Too narrow or too vague (wide) problems should be avoided.
iv. The subject selected for research should be familiar and
feasible.
v. The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary
study.
Cont’d
The criteria that must be considered in selecting
a problem:
• The importance of the subject,
• The qualifications and the training of a
researcher,
• The costs involved, and
• The time factor
Cont’d
Before the final selection of a problem is done, a
researcher must answer the following questions:
a) Whether he/she is well equipped in terms of his/her
background to carry out the research?
b) Whether the study falls within the budget he/she can
afford?
c) Whether the necessary cooperation can be obtained
from those who must participate in research as
subjects?
Necessary of Defining the Problem
• A proper definition of research problem will
enable the researcher to be on the track
whereas an ill-defined problem may create
hurdles.
• The problem to be investigated must be
defined unambiguously for that will help to
discriminate relevant data from the irrelevant
ones.
Cont’d
Well defined research problem can answer question like:
What data are to be collected?
What characteristics of data are relevant and need to be
studied?
What relations are to be explored?
What techniques are to be used for the purpose?
Defining a research problem properly is a prerequisite for
any study and it is initial step to start any research.
Techniques Involving in Defining the
Problem
The technique involving in defining the research
problem follows the following steps:
i. Statement of the problem in a general way: First
of all the problem should be stated in a broad
general way, keeping in view either some practical
concern or some scientific or intellectual interest.
ii. Understanding the nature of the problem: The
next step in defining the problem is to understand
its origin and nature clearly.
Cont’d
III. Surveying the available literature: All available literature
concerning the problem at hand must necessarily be
surveyed and examined before a definition of the research
problem is given.
iv. Developing the ideas through discussions: Discussion
concerning a problem often produces useful information.
Various new ideas can be developed through such an
exercise. Hence, a researcher must discuss his problem with
his colleagues and others who have enough experience in
the same area or in working on similar problems.
Cont’d
v. Rephrasing the research problem into a
working proposition: Finally, the researcher
must sit to rephrase the research problem into
a working proposition.
Cont’d
In addition to what has been stated above, the
following points must also be observed while
defining a research problem:
a) Technical terms and words or phrases, used in the
statement of the problem, should be clearly
defined.
b) Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating
to the research problem should be clearly stated.
Cont’d
c) A straight forward statement of the value of the
investigation (i.e., the criteria for the selection of
the problem) should be provided.
d) The suitability of the time-period and the sources of
data available must also be considered by the
researcher in defining the problem.
e) The scope of the investigation or the limits within
which the problem is to be studied must be
mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem.
